Chapter 51

Lu Bao'er's only trusted person was originally Xie Junling; now she also has Old Lady Su, so she can rest easy. One manages Lu Bao'er's daily life, the other advises her on how to treat people and things; speaking generally, across the whole capital, one can hardly find a few households where the hostess lives as comfortably as Lu Bao'er.

On the first day of the lunar new year, not only Lu Bao'er's family came to pay New Year's calls; ladies from all households came to join in. Since one does not strike a smiling face, Old Lady Su, with good temper, let everyone in.

This time, naturally not just anyone of any official rank could enter the mansion; but those of low rank naturally would not miss this chance to get close to the Grand Secretary's household, so they naturally sent servants to bring gifts to the Fu Manor.

Previously, when Old Lady Su brought Lu Bao'er to receive guests, it was against propriety; now she is her maternal granddaughter, and Xie Junling is so promising, so she naturally has the qualification to stand aside and learn how to deal with people and matters. Old Lady Su, as if seeing these ladies for the first time, introduced Lu Bao'er to them one by one.

Everyone exclaimed in praise: 'Lady Xie looks in excellent health.'

'I had wanted to say earlier that Lady Xie resembles the County Princess Qingping; now that I see her, as a maternal granddaughter, how could she not resemble her?'

'Which hairpin shop made Lady Xie's hairpin? The workmanship is so fine, I'd like to go see that shop myself.'

Those who once looked down on Lu Bao'er now, as if changing faces, flatter her; their smiles are stiff, yet they dare not fall short in the slightest.

Lu Bao'er is not the sort of arrogant and domineering sort; she smiles gently, basically just exchanging a few pleasantries, not speaking much. Old Lady Su still had to be busy all day; after receiving guests for two hours, she excused herself saying she felt unwell and wanted to lie down on the luohan couch, at this point calling out Third Madam Sun Que to receive the guests.

Everyone wanted to get close to Old Lady Su, but now not seeing her face, they rather lost interest.

Lu Bao'er knew Old Lady Su wanted to avoid noise and seek quiet, so she naturally cooperated with her act; thus she and Xie Junling returned home early.

In the carriage, Lu Bao'er wondered what Xie Junling and her maternal grandfather were saying in the study. So she asked: 'Did your grandfather give you a hard time?'

Xie Junling gave her a sideways glance and said: 'Why would I make things difficult for him?'

'Because I come from a prominent family, afraid he'd look down on you?' Lu Bao'er joked; she then found it amusing and couldn't help covering her mouth with her sleeve, laughing softly.

Seeing the young lady amused by the joke she herself had made, laughing till her branches shook, he was rather speechless and said: 'Then you guessed wrong. Master Fu told me that you are fond of eating and lazy, with hardly any merits, so only I can tolerate you, let me bear with you, and not divorce you.'

'Lord Husband, you're talking nonsense!' Hearing this, Lu Bao'er said with a stern face.

'Heh.' Xie Junling let out an extremely short laugh, playing with a piece of Hetian jade in his hand, and said, 'Whether I'm talking nonsense, you can ask Master Fu to find out.'

How could Lu Bao'er possibly go ask her maternal grandfather about these things? She thought it was false, but if it were true, it would be too embarrassing.

After a moment's thought, she half-believing, half-doubting asked: 'Did her grandfather really say that?'

Lu Bao'er's serious expression instead made Xie Junling find it funny; this talk is obviously false, yet she still believes it three-tenths.

Xie Junling pursed his thin lips, flicked her forehead, and said slowly: 'Are you stupid? Would that maternal grandfather say such things?'

Hearing this, Lu Bao'er caught her breath. It really was Xie Junling teasing her, after all; she had said it herself—who would say such things to outsiders…

Xie Junling seemed to have realized something; he suddenly lowered his head and leaned close to Lu Bao'er. The man's breath was like orchid, his hot breath falling on Lu Bao'er's exposed neck, making it slightly itchy.

Xie Junling whispered: 'But… is it that whatever I say, you believe it? So even the most ridiculous lie, you can take it as truth?'

Eh?

Lu Bao'er stood dumbfounded; it really seemed to be the case. She had never thought about whether Xie Junling was deceiving her—whatever he said was highly credible, making her forget to consider whether it was a lie.

Lu Bao'er murmured: 'My husband won't deceive me.'

'Heh.' I don't know which point of that remark made Xie Junling pleased, but he actually laughed softly. Then the man suddenly reached out and pulled Lu Bao'er into his embrace.

He held her on his lap, gently stroked the young lady's dark, thick hair, and whispered: 'You…'

'Huh?' Lu Bao'er was startled by Xie Junling's rare affectionate tone; she nestled in his warm embrace, her cheeks flushed for a moment. Since the old grandma wasn't in this carriage, only she and Xie Junling were present; although no one could see inside the carriage, this secret intimate pose still made her a bit shy, as if she were sneaking affection behind someone's back.

Xie Junling's gaze toward Lu Bao'er was nevertheless scorching; he was naturally born with a strikingly handsome appearance, and now, looking at her with deep feeling, he seemed to make one want to drown in his eyes.

Xie Junling lowered his head, lightly pecking Lu Bao'er's cheek and neck, causing her to softly hum; in a daze, Lu Bao'er heard Xie Junling say helplessly: 'What should I do with you?'

'What should I do with you?' Just take good care of her, give her good food and drink!

Lu Bao'er, dazed by Xie Junling's intimacy, on the way home actually felt half-asleep, and soon fell asleep in his embrace.

Arriving at the Xie Manor, Xie Junling didn't ask for help; instead, he himself wrapped Lu Bao'er in his outer robe and carried her back to the main house.

When Lu Bao'er woke up, it was already an hour later. She is young, her skin delicate, rosy, and supple as if it could be broken by a blow. Old Lady Su said that if she weren't receiving guests on ordinary proper days, she wouldn't need to powder her face, and this would not harm her skin. Thus, in winter Lu Bao'er only applied a layer of snowflower cream; at this point she didn't need to remove her makeup before sleeping, which saved her quite a bit.

When Lu Bao'er touched her hair bun, the sharp pin of the hairpin had been removed, yet the bun remained, and the shavings water on her head had not dissolved, clearly not done by Old Lady Su. It is highly likely that Xie Junling, fearing her hair ornaments might hurt him, personally took them off while she slept.

That Xie Junling could be so attentive made Lu Bao'er feel sweet inside; after Old Lady Su changed her clothes and washed her face, she hurried straight to the study where Xie Junling was.

As soon as she rushed into the study, she flung her arms around Xie Junling and sweetly called 'husband'; he was startled by this bold move of his little wife, thinking she had had a nightmare and, upon waking, not finding anyone, he then clung to her all the more.

At this moment, Xie Junling stroked Lu Bao'er's head and asked: 'Awake? Have you had dinner? Grandma stewed Laba porridge; I tasted it and it's not bad—do you want a couple of sips?'

'No, I just want to stay with my husband and talk.'

'Who offers flattery without cause is either a spy or a thief.'

Lu Bao'er almost rolled her eyes: 'Can't I simply want my husband?'

Xie Junling paused, then said softly: 'Hmm, you can.'

Although his words were cold, the corner of his mouth secretly rose in the dark, and he actually felt somewhat pleased.